43 Comments

I love how you said, "Sometimes love means keeping our hearts wide open, our lips gently sealed, and our eyes looking heavenward." Very good.

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Kate - keeping my lips sealed has been the biggest challenge!

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Linda, this is so encouraging. You've got great insights and food for thought here.

Thanks bunches and bunches for sharing your wise words with Sweet Tea & Friends this month sweet friend.

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Food for thought ... and prayer. Yes, I hope we can all continue to do that for each other, friend.

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This is beautiful and helpful, Linda. Thanks for heeding the Spirit's call to write and publish, sans red pen. :-)

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Lois, thanks for the encouraging words.

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good bullet points. I practice: notice, name, and nurture - the three N's remind me to do much of what you are suggesting too. I try to tell myself with God I can do the hard stuff. Somehow that helps me hand the fear over to God, and get to work! Great words, today, Linda!

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Jean, I LOVE your 3 N's. I'm encouraging everyone who reads your wise words to pack up these 3 lifelines and take them along wherever they go. Thanks for simplifying and clarifying our steps. I appreciate you so!

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Thank you for answering the Spirit's nudge to write without editing, Linda. Such a deep, heartfelt message. So needed. And so many great comments, too. A quote I love just came to mind - "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." Love and blessings to you!

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Editing has become my best friend. But it's way too easy for me to go overboard in search of perfection. Which is impossible as I often find out!

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I am so grateful that even as we can see all which is broken and painful in this world, we can experience the peace and hope and joy of Jesus. Sometimes it feels so odd and I question how I can feel joy and remind myself that joy is not found in a circumstance but in a person, Jesus.

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For sure, Joanne. I continue to be amazed that even when experiencing a whole range of emotions during any given week, the Fruit of the Spirit do not depart. I'm so grateful. Where would we be without Jesus ...

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"Get outside, get creative, get connected. Isolation is highly overrated, tunnel vision does us no favors." I love this line! Disconnection keeps us unconnected, and we are built for connection. Lovely written post.

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You're so right, Lynn ... we were built for connection. Maybe that's why blogging continues to work for so many of us.

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Amazing how we can look squarely at all that’s broken or discouraging and still trust for joy—not with a Pollyanna-ish form of denial but because our hope is firmly anchored in another world.

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Amen. May we fully keep our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith ... and less on our temporary, always shifting circumstances. He is our hope, He is our peace.

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Only 4 words to say: "Ain't that the truth!" So many people come to Jesus and think He is going to take care of all things and that it will be smooth road. Worse...they are promised health and wealth by hucksters who only want their money. Jesus promised us tribulation but that "we will overcome the world." John said, "Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world." Christian walk = difficulty. And for the record, I really agree with your last bullet point.

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Agreed. The health and wealth message is unbiblical and sooner or later must be awfully disheartening to those who've embraced it.

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IMHO it is a heresy that needs to be destroyed. Too many lives have been and are destroyed by it and it is time for it to go the way of the dodo bird. But unfortunately, it will find its proponents and continue on.

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A good prompt to re-examine what we believe and why.

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We shouldn't live in bubbles,

we must give others time,

but they have their own troubles,

and baby, I have mine.

I cannot wail and bleed for you,

although I truly care.

Can't go through what you're going through

'cause I am here, not there,

and so I think I'll send a smile

that means you're in my heart,

and thus across each lonely mile

you'll see that I am part

of this life, travail's hard essence

until we meet in God's own presence.

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A smile goes a long way. It lets the person know that you care. It lets them know they're not alone. It gives hope.

It's like words would get in the way of that gift of genuine kindness.

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Linda, I don’t have to look far to see broken and hurting ladies. Many need a hug and someone to just listen. My desire is to encourage and point them to the One who invites us, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

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Oh I know you do it so well, Pam. Seeing you minister online is just a taste of who you are in person.

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All great, but one phrase topped them all. I loved your advice to not lob out of context scripture at the wounded. Thanks.

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Yes. I've been on the receiving end of this when I was barely functioning, and even as a strong believer found it more than a bit disorienting and overwhelming.

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Thanks for this post. It is really helping me end a tiring day at work. I have enjoyed your blog very much.

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Oh Deborah, I'm so glad you're here. And I hope that our conversations will keep on encouraging your spirit.

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Among my acquaintances is a young woman carrying a steamer trunk of worry over her future, with no faith in God (that I know of) to give her hope and peace of mind. I want to write her a brief, non-preachy letter and am praying for wisdom, to encourage her and yet challenge her to reach out to Jesus Christ. May God give me the grace to be the kind of burden-bearer she needs!

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Let's hear it for brief, non-preachy notes and beautiful cards and steady prayers for miracles. He is able! And oh, how He's gifted you with the ability to write with sensitivity and hope, friend ...

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Thank you for YOUR kind words of encouragement, Linda!

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“Get outside.” YES. Beautiful words, Linda.

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I'm always looking for excuses to stay cozy inside. These days it's so incredibly raw, damp, and cold out here on the Cape. I think I'll go sit by the fire and look out the window instead.

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I'm in New Hampshire's seacoast area, so I relate to this!

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Hi neighbor!

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Jesus never told us that life would come with no trouble, but He will carry our steamer trunks full of hurt and worry for us if we let Him. May we be that kind of friend to those in need.

Blessings, Linda!

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I guess the key is if we let Him. What a heartache to watch someone try to navigate trials alone without His tender loving care. May we 'be Jesus with skin on.'

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